December 13, 2018 - January 27, 2019

I am angry. I am heartbroken. But the heart of a woman beats furiously in a million directions at once, even when it’s shattered into a million pieces.

About This Show

To the U.S.-owned factories in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, La Ruta is just a bus. But to the women who live, work and often disappear along the route, it's so much more than that. Inspired by real testimonies, and using live music to evoke factory work and protest marches, La Ruta is a visceral unearthing of secrets buried in the desert and a celebration of the Mexican women who stand resiliently in the wake of loss.

Isaac Gomez is an award-winning Chicago-based playwright, originally from El Paso, Texas/Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. An important work from a powerful young voice, we are proud to feature the world premiere of Isaac Gomez’s La Ruta with Sandra Marquez in her Steppenwolf directing debut and an all-female cast of Chicago’s most dynamic Latinx artists.

From the playwright

“Every single woman in this play is based on a real person. And although some names have been changed for their protection, the violence they face and their resilience have not. I made a promise to these women that their stories would be heard by as many people as humanly possible, and through this world premiere at Steppenwolf, we are one step closer to keeping that promise -- to bear witness and carry their stories forward. As a queer Mexicano from the border, I owe my entire existence to Mexican women. This play is for them. Para todas. Para siempre.”

Watch & Listen

Running Time

1 hour and 35 minutes, presented without an intermission

Content Advisory

Graphic descriptions of sexual violence

Strong Language

If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact the box office at 312-335-1650.

Engagement Series

Every Sunday in January, join us for conversations and performances designed to enrich your experience around La Ruta.

Featured Ensemble Members

The Cast

Quotes

“Filled with fraught, intensely emotional scenes. The all-women ensemble delivers a collection of extraordinary performances. Despite being set in the past, “La Ruta” has plenty of contemporary relevance” - Chicago Sun-Times

“Unflinching, passionately acted premiere. Unrelenting tension animates the haunting, harrowing "La Ruta," which crescendos from a quiet whimper to an anguished cri de coeur. It's difficult to watch. Sandra Marquez's well-informed direction and her accomplished cast, however, make it impossible to look away.”- Daily Herald

“Talented 27-year-old writer’s new drama with music...tells of the women of Juarez, murdered on their way to work. [Gomez] fulfilled his promise. He honors them with every word. Alive or dead, you feel them in the bones of this young play” - Chicago Tribune

“Countless moments of sheer theatrical beauty, brought to life under the seamless, passionate direction of Sandra Marquez. With “La Ruta,” a play inspired by the true stories of the women of Juárez, Gomez has crafted an act of storytelling whose primary function is as noble as any act of pure human inspiration one can find in the theater: keeping these women and their daughters alive.” - Newcity

“Bold, beautiful and timely piece of art....La Ruta triumphs. Sandra Marquez leads a stunningly talented all-female cast to an unmitigated dramatic victory. The setting may be Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, but the struggles of these poor, strong, beautiful women are universal. La Ruta is a must-see.” – Broadway World

Running Time

1 hour and 35 minutes, presented without an intermission

Content Advisory

Graphic descriptions of sexual violence

Strong Language

If you have any questions about content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that might have a bearing on patron comfort, please contact the box office at 312-335-1650.

Engagement Series

Every Sunday in January, join us for conversations and performances designed to enrich your experience around La Ruta.